Introducing the 4th annual Fentress Film Fest!

We are Fentress Films (a small female founded and queer founded film company), and we are SO excited to be hosting our very own film festival for the fourth year in a row!! We are looking forward to recognizing hard working filmmakers from all over the world who are creating art to change the world! In the past three years, we have received submissions from over 31 different countries, which allowed us to connect to artists and celebrate art from all across the globe! Not only are we looking for awesome films with superb visual design and editing, but we are also looking for hardworking and passionate filmmakers and films that tell captivating stories! The festival will be from January 1st-6th, 2024 and will be mostly virtual with a small screening in the US. This means we are accepting submissions from all over the world!! Yay!! Since the festival will be mostly virtual, we will have online events happening all weekend long, so that the selected filmmakers can get to know each other, and so that the online community can engage with each filmmaker's work before the actual awards ceremony!

We have 9 total award categories:
1) Best Overall Short
-One film will win the award for best overall short!
-1 submission category; 1 award opportunity
-Decided by a jury

2) Best Animated Film
-One film will win the award for best animated film!
-We want to recognize the hard-working animators out there! Animation is no easy task, so this is the time for animated films to shine!
-1 submission category; 1 award opportunity
-Decided by a jury

3) Most Innovative Film
-One film will win the award for most innovative film!
-We want to recognize films that are either visually inspiring or inspire us with their story! So if you have made a visually unique film or a film with a powerful message, this is your time to shine!
-1 submission category; 1 award opportunity
-Decided by a jury

4) Best Director
-One film will win the award for best overall director!
-1 submission category; 1 award opportunity
-Decided by a jury

5) Best Actor (1 of 2 awards)
-There will be two award opportunities for best actor, so that people of all genders have equal opportunity to win an award in this category!
-1 submission category; 2 award opportunities
-Decided by a jury

6) Best Actor (2 of 2 awards)
-There will be two award opportunities for best actor, so that people of all genders have equal opportunity to win an award in this category!
-1 submission category; 2 award opportunities
-Decided by a jury

7) First Time Filmmaker
-One film will win the award for best first time filmmaker!
-We have all been first time filmmakers before, so we want to applaud you for your incredible hard work and for taking the giant leap into the film world! Don't give up, this is just the beginning!
-1 submission category; 1 award opportunity
-Decided by a jury

8) Female Filmmaker
-One film will win the award for best female filmmaker!
-Women are the future of film! We want to shoutout all the women creating amazing art out there! You rock!
-1 submission category; 1 award opportunity
-Decided by a jury

9) Fentress Fan Favorite
-One film will win the “Fentress Fan Favorite” award!
-You don't need to apply to this category on FilmFreeway, as we will run this portion of the contest during the actual festival! (0 submission categories; 1 award opportunity)
-The public will vote and the film with the most votes will win the award! This gives filmmakers the opportunity to share their film with their friends, family, and the online community! It's great exposure!
-Decided by the public via online video platform voting system

Here is the schedule of events happening during the virtual festival:

MONDAY (01/01):
-Start of the festival!!!!
-Opening ceremony: We will introduce the festival organizers, introduce each selected film, and explain what will happen in the coming days.
-Start of the Fentress Fan Favorite award voting via our online voting platform (more details to come)

TUESDAY (01/02):
-Filmmakers opening ceremony video: Each filmmaker will get to introduce themself/their team, their film, and their film's mission.
-Fentress Fan Favorite award voting is still going via our online voting platform

WEDNESDAY (01/03):
-Meet and greet for all selected filmmakers (Zoom happy hour hangout)
-Fentress Fan Favorite award voting is still going via our online voting platform

THURSDAY (01/04):
-Fentress Fan Favorite award voting is still going via our online voting platform

FRIDAY (01/05):
-Award nominations are announced
-Last day of voting for the Fentress Fan Favorite award via our online voting platform
-Live screening event (USA; time/location TBD)

SATURDAY (01/06):
-All awards are announced!!!
-Closing ceremony: We will recognize each selected filmmaker again and give a sneak peek into Fentress Film Fest 2025!

Awards & Prizes

For each award category, the winner will receive:
-Official winner certificate (automatically included)
-Free Fentress Student Film Fest stickers (automatically included)
-We will feature your film on our website and social media (automatically included)

Rules & Terms

General rules for applying:
-Films can only be submitted via FilmFreeway
-All films must be 40 minutes or less (including credits)
-Films must have been created 2020 or later, but no earlier than 2020
-In order for us to consider your film for an award, you must include a poster, trailer, and access to watch your film via a digital file ONLY on your FilmFreeway project submission (we will not accept DVD submissions)
-We will not waive any submission fees, as we do not want to favor or give special treatment to any films over others
-All films must be in English OR have English subtitles if the film is not originally in English
-Only women can apply to the female filmmaker category
-Only filmmakers who have never made a film before now can apply to the first-time filmmaker category
-To be considered for the animation category, at least 50% of the submitted film must be animated
-There are no restrictions regarding prior premiere(s) or distribution of films being submitted to our festival
-There are no restrictions regarding submitting your film to other festivals (we hope you submit your amazing work to more than just our festival)
-If you submitted to Fentress Film Fest in 2021, you can submit the same film this year, but that does not mean your film will automatically be selected
-You can submit to as many award categories as you want (as long as you actually qualify for each category), but you are required to pay the submission fee for each category you apply to
-Fentress Film Fest reserves the right to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund
-Films that are selected to screen at our virtual festival won't necessarily be chosen to be nominated for an award, as nominations for awards will take place during the virtual festival
-Films must be the original work of the submitting applicant ONLY. By entering this competition, you attest that you have all the necessary rights to your film and/or that the content of the film is entirely your own original work
-Fentress Film Fest is not liable for any copyright, trademark, credit infractions/fees from filmmakers that submit to our festival
-Once you submit to our festival and pay the entry fee, we cannot provide a refund
-Fentress Film Fest volunteers/jurors/organizers are not liable for any comments or opinions regarding submitted and selected films
-If you submit your film and are selected to screen at our virtual festival, you agree to let us promote your film on our online platforms and social media and will grant us access to/send us your film poster, official trailer, and your full film to be screened
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tristan Alice Nieto

    Great fun, was really glad to be a part of it. They did a great job under difficult circumstances and managed to make me feel included despite being stuck in quarantine on the other side of the world.

    February 2022
    Helpful
  • Stephen Cooke

    What a great festival with fantastic communication, even for me living in Australia. This festival is one to watch and I can see it growing in future years into something massive! Well done to the organisers. I'll definitely be submitting again.

    January 2022
    Helpful
  • Jay Jay Jegathesan

    wonderful festival. they really care about positively highlighting all their official selections and put great effort into giving all an opportunity to shine

    January 2022
    Helpful
  • Ryan Range

    Lots of really talented people with good opportunities for networking! The organizers are great and really emphasize the interactive nature of film festivals.

    January 2022
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Ryan! We are so happy you enjoyed the festival and the networking events this year. We hope you submit again next year!!

  • María Paola Ramírez

    Amazing festival!
    This was such a great experience, everyone was really welcoming and attentive, and the programming was excellent! Congratulations to all the attendees and participants! I'm so happy to have been part of this edition and of course of receiving the Best Female Filmmaker award! It really means a lot to me as a young female creator!

    Thank you so much Sam and team! Keep up with the amazing work!

    January 2022
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    María, we are so thrilled you enjoyed the festival! It was a true honor getting to showcase your film (and congrats on the award). Keep creating incredible work!!!